In its pre-budget submission, the National Recruitment Federation (NRF), representative body for the recruitment industry in Ireland, called for an increase in the entry point into the higher tax bracket and reducing the rates of the Universal Social Charge (USC), reports The Irish Times. Specifically, the NRF is calling for an increase in the entry point to the 40% rate of income tax by €1,250 to keep ahead of wage growth, costing the exchequer around €210 million. It also recommended a 0.25% reduction in the main USC rate to 4.5% and the same reduction in the lower rate to 1.75%. According to the NRF, an effective reduction in income taxes is required to control wage inflation and support competitiveness. The NRF added that the rapid fall in unemployment poses "significant challenges for the economy", and the low participation rates of women over the age of 35 therefore needs to be addressed.